Ball throwing machine with barrel extension

ABSTRACT

An improved compressed fluid ball projecting apparatus having an improved ball feeding device and ball control ejection barrel extensions. The barrel extensions come in several forms to provide for high and low velocity baseball ejection, and for the throwing, of tennis balls. Included in each of several given forms of the barrel extension structures is a slot extending through the wall of the extension structure. A strip of friction material extends inwardly through this slot. This strip of material is resiliently mounted so as to be outwardly depressable through the slot in response to engagement by a ball passing through the barrel and barrel extension of the ball projecting apparatus. Adjusting screws provide for adjustment of the position of the friction strip relative to the wall of the extension for desired penetration of the strip into the interior thereof. Diametrically opposite the strip is a slippery surface so that a ball passing through the barrel extension is subjected to the friction strip on one side and the slippery surface on the other and is caused to spin thereby.

Kahelin Oct. 1, 1974 BALL THROWING MACHINE WITH BARREL EXTENSION EdwardW. Kahelin, 812 Fifth St., Manhattan Beach, Calif. 90266 Filed: Sept.28, 1972 Appl. No.: 293,020

Inventor:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Primary Examiner-Richard C.Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stouffer [57] ABSTRACT An improvedcompressed fluid ball projecting apparatus having an improved ballfeeding device and ball control ejection barrel extensions. The barrelextensions come in several forms to provide for high and low velocitybaseball ejection, and for the throwing, of tennis balls. Included ineach of several given forms of the barrel extension structures is a slotextending through the wall of the extension structure. A strip offriction material extends inwardly through this slot. This strip ofmaterial is resiliently mounted so as to be outwardly depressablethrough the slot in response to engagement by a ball passing through thebarrel and barrel extension of the ball projecting apparatus. Adjustingscrews provide for adjustment of the position of the friction striprelative to the wall of the extension for desired penetration of thestrip into the interior thereof. Diametrically opposite the strip is aslippery surface so that a ball passing through the barrel extension issubjected to the friction strip on one side and the slippery surface onthe other and is caused to spin thereby.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTEU T 3.838.676

SHEET 10F 2 BALL THROWING MACHINE WITH BARREL EXTENSION RELATEDINVENTIONS The present invention is an improvement over the apparatusshown and described as a Baseball Pitching and Fielding Practice Devicein US. Pat. no. 3,018,769. which issued Jan. 30, 1962 to F. L.Parsoneault. The details of that patent are hereby incorporated hereinas if fully set forth and reference is made to that patent for anunderstanding of the present invention and its advantages over the priorart. Both the Parsoneault patent and the present invention are presentlyowned by K-Lin Specialties, Inc., 812 Fifth Street, Manhattan Beach,Calif. 90266 and apparatus currently marketed by them will incorporatethe improvements set forth in the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Baseball, tennis and other populargames requiring swinging at the ball with an instrument requirespractice in hitting, catching, retrieving and other specific maneuversnecessary in achieving proficiency in the game. Hence, throwing the ballrepeatedly and with accuracy into a strike zone, into the air or with abounce off the ground is very desirable in the practice and training ofa participant. A machine for this purpose is preferable to the manualpropulsion of a ball by a person.

An excellent machine for the throwing of balls at a constant velocityand with consistent accuracy is known as the Fireball, a trademark ofK-Lin Specialties. It reflects the teachings of the previously mentionedParsoneault patent and is used in practice by teams in professionalleagues, schools, Little League, and by park and playground teams. It islight, mobile, easy to erect for use and to disassemble fortransportation and storage.

In the Fireball machine, balls are automatically fed into a propulsionchamber behind which is a chamber for supplying the compressed air whichpropels the balls, one at a time and at predetermined intervals, out ofthe barrel. A sleeve automatically covers the ball entrance opening intothe barrel before the ball is ejected, to prevent the compressed airfrom escaping from the opening. The machine also has a ball curveattachment on the end for giving the ball a spin as it leaves thebarrel.

The sleeve and the barrel over which it slides, in the Fireball machine,must have a precision fit to prevent escape of compressed airtherebetween and yet permit effortless sliding of the sleeve over thebarrel each time a ball is ejected. Dirt or foreign particles betweenthe two cause jamming and malfunction. Looseness of fit or play fromwear cannot be tolerated.

The ball curve attachment ahead of the end of the barrel for spinningthe ball does not provide the high degree of control that is desired,particularly when the balls are ejected at the slower Little Leaguevelocities.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention incorporates theprinciple features of the Parsoneault patent. A portable tripod mounted,angularly adjustable, ball ejecting barrel is provided with an automaticfeed dropping a ball into the barrel after the previous one was fired. Atwo step mechanism is now provided to prevent ball jamming, toaccommodate different sized balls and balls that tend to stick together.The sleeve which moves over the opening in the barrel also has beenchanged in the present invention to eliminate the close fit previouslyrequired. This is done by providing for an inner self sealing sleevethat bears against the inside of the barrel when it is subjected to thecompressed air yet slides loosely inside the barrel when the compressedair has been spent. A compressed air chamber is fed with a portable aircompressor and a timing device actuates an air pressure release.permitting the compressed air to be released to the rear of the ball inthe barrel and firing it therefrom at a velocity depending upon thechamber air pressure at the time of release. This velocity, of course,may be regulated as desired for park recreational or professional play.Instead of the ball spinning device forward of the barrel, a pluralityof barrel extensions are available for high and low velocity baseballejection, and for the throwing of tennis balls. all with greateraccuracy and consistency.

The foregoing improvements make the basic machine more reliable,efficient and accurate in use without an increase in cost or complexity.Its greater variety of uses, in addition to its dependability, make it amore desirable machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ballthrowing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly invertical cross section, of the main components of the machine.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the barrel and sleeve FIG. 9 is a similarview of a fourth embodiment, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a preferred type of baseball'for usewith the machine in batting practice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1 there isshown a ball throwing machine 10 built in accordance with the presentinvention. Included is a tripod having legs 12, 14 and 16 connected to aU-shaped frame 18 having rearwardly extending legs 20, 22. Pivotallymounted on legs 20, 22 is a compression tank 24 having a barrel 26extending forwardly therefrom. A barrel extension 28 for a selected ballcontrol function is adapted for attachent to the outer end of the barrel26. The barrel 30 of a ball feeding device is attached to barrel 26 bymounting bracket 32 and is adapted to drop balls, one at a time, intoopening 34 at the rear of barrel 26 preparatory to their ejection. Asleeve 36 slides over barrel 26 to close the opening 34 to prevent lossof compressed air which is used in ejecting the ball from the barrel 26.This ejection is at sufficient velocity to simulate a pitched ball, popfly, grounder or other desired simulation. As sleeve 36 moves forwardly,a laterally extending lug 38 on the sleeve pushes the lower end of pivotarm 40 on barrel forwardly to ready a ball for dropping into opening 34when it is again uncovered by the rearward movement of sleeve 36.

A compressor 42 is the source of compressed air which is stored incompression tank 24 through conduit 44. Pressure control regulator 46controls the pressure within the tank 24 at the time of its release tofire the ball. Pressure within the 10 to l5 psi (pounds per square inch)range is appropriate for ejecting a ball at Little League speeds of to70 feet per second velocity whereas a safety valve 25, shown in FIG. 2,set at approximately 30 psi limits the velocity of ball ejection forprofessional use.

Conduit 48 leads to a cycle valve 50 which is operated by a timing motor52 to connect it with conduit 54. This actuates release of compressedair from tank 24 for firing the ball.

A batter can tell when a ball is about to be ejected by watching thesemi-circular member 56 rotate in front of disc 58 as the cycle valve 50rotates to connect conduit 54 to air from conpressor 42 to fire theball.

In the embodiment in FIG. 1 the compressor 42 connects with conduits 44and 48 through a T-fitting 60 attached to leg 16 which is hollow. Aconduit 62 connects the compressor 42 to the leg 16. However. otherconnections between the compressor 42 and the cycle valve 50 andcompression tank 24 are within the teachings of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown the cylindrical compression tank24 having a front end plate 64 and a rear end plate 66. Rear end plate66 has a central bore 68 through which a smaller cylinder plunger 70 isslidingly mounted. The front end of plunger 70 has a resilient sealingpad 72 adapted to plug opening 74 in the front end plate 64. Thisopening 74 communicates with the rear end of barrel 26 for supplyingcompressed air behind a ball in the barrel when the sealing pad 72 ismoved rearwardly to expose the opening 74. A guide rod 76 extendsforwardly of pad 72 and isslidingly supported by bracket 78 on end plate64. The rear end of cylinder plunger 70 is sealed with a plug 80 whichhas an air fitting 82 adapted for connection with conduit 54 in FIG. 1.Plug 80 also has a central opening 84 in which is slidingly mounted ashaft 86 connected to a piston head 88 within cylinder 70. The outer endof shaft 86 is held by a bracket 89 fastened to the outer surface ofrear plate 66. A handle 90 is also attached to bracket 89 and may beused to change the angle of barrel 26 between ball ejections as desired.A compres sion spring 92 between bracket 89 and plug 80 keeps thecylinder plunger 70 in its forward position, as shown, with the sealingpad 72 over the opening 74 until compressed air enters fitting 82 andinto the chamber between plug 80 and piston head 88. Since the pistonhead 88 cannot move forward, to the right in FIG. 2, the plug 80, andthus plunger 70 with its sealing pad 72, must move rearwardly, to theleft in FIG. 2. This releases the compressed air in chamber 24 behindthe ball in barrel 26 and the ball is ejected. As the cycle valve 50 inFIG. 1 continues to rotate, the fitting 82 becomes exposed to theatmosphere and the triggering compressed air between plug 80 and piston88 is lost. Compression spring 92 then pushes the cylinder plunger 70forwardly again (as shown in FIG. 2) and air pressure again builds up inchamber 24 for the next ball ejection. Ring 94 attached to fitting 82 onplunger 70 may also be pulled rearwardly by hand to cause firing at anytime should the automatic timed firing through motor 52 and cycle valve50 not be desired.

The buildup of air pressure in compression chamber 24 is also used toclose the opening 34 in barrel 26 prior to the firing of the ball. Thisis necessary to prevent loss of air behind the ball until it leaves thebarrel. This is accomplished by another pressure responsive actuatorwithin chamber 24. This actuator consists of a cylinder 96 attached tothe inner surface of front plate 64. A rod 98 is slidingly mounted onplate 64 and is attached at its inner end to a piston head 100 withinthe cylinder 96. Its outer end is attached to cylinder sleeve 36 onbarrel 26. Compression spring 102 between plate 64 and piston head 100holds sleeve 36 rearwardly. as shown. until air pressure against piston100 builds up. depresses the spring, and moves sleeve 36 forwardly toclose opening 34. This position is shown in phantom lines 36A. An airbleed 104 through plate 64 prevents back pressure to piston head 100.

Sleeve 36 has an upwardly and rearwardly extending tab 106 which passesthrough a slot (not shown) in the back cover 108 of barrel 30 to itsphantom line position 106A to receive ball 110 when the lower end ofpivot arm 40 has been moved forwardly by the laterally extending lug 38on sleeve 36. Arm 40 has an upper pivot mounting 111 on the top ofbarrel 26 with a lever arm 112 extending upwardly. Tension spring 114 isconnected to this lever arm to return pivot arm 40 to the position shownwhen sleeve 36 is returned to its rear position. Attached to pivot arm40 is a ball stop arm 116 which moves upwardly with the forward movementof pivot arm 40 and out of the path of ball 110 to permit it to rolldown into contact with tab 106A. When sleeve 36 and tab 106A moverearwardly, opening 34 is exposed and the ball drops down into thebarrel 26. As lever arm 40 moves rearwardly the ball stop arm 116 movesdownwardly to stop the next ball in the ball feed barrel 30. A springpressed detent 118 on barrel 26 prevents the ball from moving forwardlyuntil ejected by the compressed air when plunger 70 is actuated.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sleeve 36 actually consists of an outer sleeve120, an inner seal 122, tab 106, lug 38 and a ball positioning bolt 124connecting the outer sleeve 120 and and inner seal 122 through a slot126 in barrel 26. The outer sleeve 120 may have a loose fit over barrel26 to avoid binding problems and to insure dependability withoutprecision manufacturing. The problem of air leakage is resolved with theinner seal 122 which preferably does not form a complete cylindricalwall. With a longitudinal strip removed from its cylindrical wall, itslongitudinal edges 128 and 130 are spaced and permit radial flexibility.This seal preferably is made from sheet metal which snugs against theinner surface of barrel 26 when subjected to the blast of compressed airfrom chamber 24 used in ejecting the ball from barrel 26. In the absenceof such pressure it retracts enough to slide along the inner surface ofbarrel 26 without binding.

The barrel extension 28 has a collar 132 adapted to fit over the outerend of barrel 26. A thumb screw 134 fastens it securely in place. Alongthe upper inner surface of the barrel 28 is a longitudinal strip 136 offriction material such as rubber which may be recessed into the barrelby an amount regulated by adjustment screws 138 and 140. Along the lowersurface is a longitudinal Teflon strip 140 or other strip ofnon-friction material that may be adhesively applied or baked on as aplurality of coatings. As a ball passes through extension 28 the upperfriction material tends to retard the upper portion of the ball and thenon-friction material 141 lets the lower portion of the ball continue.This results in a spinning motion of the ball as it leaves the extension28. Other forms of extensions are set forth in subsequent views.

In FIG. 4 there is shown the ball spin device used in the old Fireballmachine which preceded the extensions of the present invention. Here asleeve extension member 142 is provided with an attaching collar 144engageable on the end of the ejection barrel. Locking screw 146 rigidlysecures the sleeve member 142 on the barrel in a desired position ofangular adjustment around the axis of the barrel. An arm 148 is pivotedon lug 150 on the extension 142 and extends through a U- shaped bracket152 near the end of the extension 142. A compression spring 154 bearsdown on the arm 148. An adjusting screw 156 passes through arm 148 andbears on the outer surface of sleeve extension 142 to limit the downwardmovement of arm 148 in response to the compression on spring 154. Byadjusting the screw 156, the inclination of arm 148 may be adjusted.

The under surface of arm 148 has a strip of friction material such asrubber attached thereto which extends into the path of travel of a ballejected through the sleeve extension 142. The adjustment of screw 156regulates the amount of spin imparted to the ball and thus the degree ofcurving action applied to the ball.

While this prior art development has merit, it also had problems whichmadeit lack dependable accuracy. For example, the differences in ballsfired such as slight variations in size, roughness, and moisture contentwould change the angle of ricochet of the ball from the frictionmaterial. Thus, improvements were necessary such as those in FIGS. 5 to10, inclusive.

The structure in FIG. 5 is similar to the prior art structure in FIG. 4and like parts are identified by like numerals. I-lowever, extension142A in FIG. 5 is longer. It was found that with the same amount ofcompressed air, the ricochet of the ball from the friction pad 158reduced its velocity. By lengthening the extension. the initial velocitycould be restored without an increase in compressed air. This, however,did not correct the accuracy problems in the prior art device.

By placing the friction material within the length of the extension andproviding a relatively non-friction surface on the other side of thebarrel inner surface, the ball can be made to spin without ricochet andany curve developed will result from the spinning effect of the ball,not its bounce from an object forwardly of the barrel extension. In FIG.6, there is shown a barrel extension 160 with an area 162 pivoted atbracket 164 on the extension. A slot is provided in the wall of theextension to permit the friction material 166 fastened under the arm 162to pass into the extension to contact a ball passing through theextension. A bracket 168 on the outer end of the extension has a bolt170 passing through the bracket to engage the outer surface of theextension. The bolt is threadedly connected to the end of arm 162 sothat rotation of bolt 170 regulates its penetration into the extension.A spring 172 between bracket 168 and arm 162 provides outward resiliencywhen the ball passes through and pushes the friction strip 166outwardly.

On the opposite side of the extension from the friction strip 166 aretwo rows of rollers 174 mounted on the extension by bracket 176. Theserollers pass through the extension 160 to engage a ball passing through.These rollers provide the slippery or nonfriction surface on the side ofthe barrel extension opposite to that of the friction surface. Boltregulates the degree of spin on the ball thus generated and theorientation of the extension 160 on the end of the ball exit barreldetermines the angular direction of the spin. The end view in FIG. 7 isfor additional clarity in understanding its operation. As ball 178 isforced between the rollers 174 and the friction strip 166, it lifts thestrip up against the spring 172. This also acts as a speed killer andcan be made to reduce the ball velocity if desired.

In FIG. 8 is another version wherein a long strip of friction materialis used to dampen the ball velocity to Little League speeds. Thebumpiness at slow speeds as in the case of the rollers is not present. Aforced spin is developed without ricochet for a more reliable ballejection. Here a longer strip of friction material 180 is attached tothe underside of arm .182 which is resiliently mounted at both ends tobarrel extension 184. Brackets 186,- 188 are attached to the extension184 and springs 190, 192 urge the strip 180 inwardly. Bolts 194, 196 arethreadedly engaged through arm 182 and bear against the extension 184for adjustment purposes both fore and aft. On the inner surface oppositestrip 180 is a Teflon or similar slippery surface 197 which may beapplied. A liquid Teflon sprayed and baked in successive layers has beenvery effective. Also a Teflon strip bonded or glued to the inner surfaceworks satisfactorily.

In FIG. 9 there is shown an attachment for throwing tennis balls. Sincethe diameter of a tennis ball is 2.75

inches compared with a baseball of 2.95 inches in diameter, a sleeveinsert 198 is used which extends down into the ejection barrel of themachine. Lip 200 fits between edges 128, 130 of inner sleeve 122 shownin FIGS. 2 and 3. Attaching collar 202 is used, as before, in securingthe extension 204 with the proper orientation. Arm 206 is pivotallymounted by bracket 208 to extension 204 with bracket 210, bolt 212 andspring 214 resiliently adjusting the arm 206 for penetration.

Attached to arm 206 are stiff bristles 216 which frictionally retard theupper surface of the tennis ball while Teflon surface 218 applies theslippery surface contact with the ball from the other side.

In FIG. 10 is shown the configuration of a baseball preferably used withthe extensions in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8. This ball is of conventional sizebut has a' second set of stitches symmetricaly applied with a reversepattern. Thus, stitching 220, 222, 224 shows the conventionalconfiguration with stitching 226, 228, 230 constituting the reversepattern. If the ball has a molded rubber outer surface the simulatedstitching is textured for a distinct rise along the stitching. Theimportance of this second set of reverse stitching is that no matter howthe ball is handled or happens to drop into the sleeve for firing, thebatter sees the spinning of strings at the girth of the ball. The blurof strings at top and bottom of the ball as it spins is not detrimentalto the batter.

Having described illustrative embodiments of the present invention,other modifications thereof will occur to those skilled in the art andit is to be understood that these variations are to be considered aspart of the present invention as set forth in the claims.

What I claim is: l. A ball throwing machine comprising: a stand; a ballejection barrel supported by said stand; means for ejecting a ball outof said barrel; a barrel extension adapted for mounting on the end ofsaid barrel; said extension having a slot extending through the wallthereof; said extension further having a strip of friction materialextending inwardly through said slot; means for resiliently mountingsaid strip in said slot so that said strip is outwardly depressablethrough said slot in response to engagement by a ball passing throughsaid barrel and said barrel extension; means for adjusting the positionof said strip relative to said wall for desired penetration of saidstrip into the interior of said extension;

said barrel extension having a slippery inner surface diametricallyopposite said strip whereby a ball passing through said extension issubjected to said outwardly depressable strip and said slippery innersurface and be caused to spin thereby.

2. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein said slippery innersurface is a Teflon material affixed to the inner surface of the barrelof said extension.

3. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein said slippery innersurface is a plurality of rollers having edges thereof protruding intosaid extension.

4. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein said strip of frictionmaterial comprises inwardly directed bristles against which a ball willbrush as the ball passes therethrough.

5. A ball throwing machine as in claim 4 wherein said barrel extensionhas an inner sleeve insertable into said ball ejection barrel for theejection of balls smaller in diameter than the diameter of said barrel.

1. A ball throwing machine comprising: a stand; a ball ejection barrelsupported by said stand; means for ejecting a ball out of said barrel; abarrel extension adapted for mounting on the end of said barrel; saidextension having a slot extending through the wall thereof; saidextension further having a strip of friction material extending inwardlythrough said slot; means for resiliently mounting said strip in saidslot so that said strip is outwardly depressable through said slot inresponse to engagement by a ball passing through said barrel and saidbarrel extension; means for adjusting the position of said striprelative to said wall for desired penetration of said strip into theinterior of said extension; said barrel extension having a slipperyinner surface diametrically opposite said strip whereby a ball passingthrough said extension is subjected to said outwardly depressable stripand said slippery inner surface and be caused to spin thereby.
 2. A ballthrowing machine as in claim 1 wherein said slippery inner surface is aTeflon material affixed to the inner surface of the barrel of saidextension.
 3. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1 wherein saidslippery inner surface is a plurality of rollers having edges thereofprotruding into said extension.
 4. A ball throwing machine as in claim 1wherein Said strip of friction material comprises inwardly directedbristles against which a ball will brush as the ball passestherethrough.
 5. A ball throwing machine as in claim 4 wherein saidbarrel extension has an inner sleeve insertable into said ball ejectionbarrel for the ejection of balls smaller in diameter than the diameterof said barrel.